When does Aol pull results from none paid Ink.

[Personalniche]

Hi, just wanted to ask if anyone has an idea of when AOL comes arround to Ink to pull none paid listings.

Thanks

[stcrim]

Personalniche - WElcome to WMW. Not sure I comopletely understand the question. The results AOL uses come from INK and those results may have paid and non-paid results mixed in.

Ink doesn't make the paid vs. non paid clear to the average user.

I think if it was public knowlege that AOL's search results were skewed my money (but that fact wasn't disclosed), they would no longer be a trusted resource.

-s-

[Personalniche]

Sorry, I meant how often does AOL come around to pick up from ink search listings that are not paid. Just trying to find out the time it takes AOL to pick up listings. I know the paid are around a week, but any one have the time for non paid.

Thanks

[Liane]

stcrim >those results may have paid and non-paid results mixed in.<

HUH??? I was under the impression that AOL identified paid and unpaid results by way of "Sponsored Links" shown at the top of the page, followed by "Matching Sites" which are Inktomi, Pure Search results. Have I been labouring under a misconception Steve?

Please clarify!

[Marcia]

Liane, the 3 sponsored listings at the top are Overture, but I think what we're trying to figure here is the difference in update times for the Inktomi paid and unpaid pages.

>>Ink doesn't make the paid vs. non paid clear to the average user.

If I'm reading it right, stcrim is saying you can't tell which of the Ink listings at AOL are paid or unpaid. Paid are included or updated within days, but it sounds like Personalniche is trying to find out how long it takes to get new pages included or existing ones updated if they're not paid for.

Personalniche, it was mentioned in another thread that the unpaid get included at some regular interval if they "meet the criteria." No specifics were given, but it's probably safe to assume that having some links from sites already iin the database is a good part of the criteria.

There's also been reference to Ink using ODP and Looksmart titles and descriptions, and since those are human-reviewed I'd assume that those links are considered to have credibility. I wouldn't hold my breath through a Hotbot or MSN submission unless there are some good inbound links, especially from one of the directories.